The Future bloc on Tuesday called on Lebanon's prime minister to keep his promise and stay committed to an international court investigating the 2005 murder of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri.
Prime Minister Najik Mikati “is being called upon to respect his promise and stances regarding the complete cooperation with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon [STL] so that [his actions] are in harmony [with his statements] and aspirations of Lebanese.” said a statement released following the bloc's weekly meeting.
Prime Minister Najik Mikati “is being called upon to respect his promise and stances regarding the complete cooperation with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon [STL] so that [his actions] are in harmony [with his statements] and aspirations of Lebanese.” said a statement released following the bloc's weekly meeting.
The statement said that the rally organized on Sunday in Tripoli underlined “full cooperation with” the STL, including the issues related to handing in those indicted by the UN-backed court, as well as paying Lebanon’s share of STL funding.
These issues serve “as commitments to a national cause related to justice,” the statement read.
Thousands of people poured into the northern city of Tripoli to take part in a rally organized by the Future Movement to honor Lebanese politicians assassinated in past years, as well as to voice support for Arab uprisings.
Four Hezbollah members have been indicted by the STL for the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. However, the Shia group strongly denies the charges and refuses to cooperate with the court.
Lebanon contributes 49 percent of the UN backed court’s annual subsidy.
Mikati has called for the cabinet to meet on Wednesday and discuss the issue of Lebanon’s share of STL funding.
Regarding the latest Syrian developments, the Future bloc said that “noncooperation with the recent resolutions issued by the Arab league regarding halting violence against [Syrian] citizens and allowing Arab observers [in Syria] have led Arab officials to adopt the latest resolutions [against Syria].”
The Future bloc called on Syrian officials to show responsiveness regarding the Arab League’s resolutions “before the sanctions are implemented.”
It also called on the Lebanese government to not oppose the decisions taken by the Arab league.
The Arab League on Sunday voted sweeping sanctions against Damascus to punish the regime for failing to halt its deadly crackdown on anti-government protests - the first time the bloc enforces sanctions of this magnitude on one of its members.
Nineteen Arab League members voted for the sanctions. Iraq abstained and said it would refuse to implement them, while Lebanon disassociated itself.
The Future Movement also condemned on Tuesday the recent documentary film presented by Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem, saying that it showed events “not related to what is happening in Syria.”
“These desperate claims show that the [Syrian regime’s] credibility [is weakening].”
Syria on Monday hit out at the Arab League for the treatment it has meted out to Damascus, accusing it of ignoring the presence of "terrorists" in the country and prematurely imposing economic sanctions.
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